Compare towns
Exeter vs Pomfret vs Sterling
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has the most people working from home (17.2%).
Pomfret has the oldest population (median age 45.9).
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Exeter | Pomfret | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,195Highest |
4,317 |
3,629Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
45.9±3.7Highest 18% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
| Pomfret and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Pomfret and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$30kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$108,476±$8k 34% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12kLowest 27% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $509,200±$43kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$409,100±$28k 23% above U.S. |
$283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,317±$307Highest 7% below U.S. |
$1,210±$300Lowest 14% below U.S. |
— |
| Exeter and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,881 89% above U.S. |
$5,903Highest 89% above U.S. |
$4,551Lowest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±15.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.2%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #14 of 38 in RI | #39 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Exeter-West Greenwich | Pomfret School District | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.